HMS Exeter (1697)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Exeter.

HMS Exeter was a 60-gun fourth-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Portsmouth Dockyard on 26 May 1697.

Plan of Exeter's rebuild of 1744
History
Great Britain
Name	HMS Exeter
Builder	Bagwell, Portsmouth Dockyard
Launched	26 May 1697
Fate	Broken up, 1763
General characteristics as built
Class and type	60-gun fourth-rate ship of the line
Tons burthen	949
Length	148 ft (45.1 m) (gundeck)
Beam	38 ft 2 in (11.6 m)
Depth of hold	15 ft 9 in (4.8 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Armament	60 guns of various weights of shot
General characteristics after 1744 rebuild
Class and type	1733 proposals 60-gun fourth-rate ship of the line
Tons burthen	1068
Length	144 ft (43.9 m) (gundeck)
Beam	41 ft 5 in (12.6 m)
Depth of hold	16 ft 11 in (5.2 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Armament	60 guns: Gundeck: 24 × 24 pdrs Upper gundeck: 26 × 9 pdrs Quarterdeck: 8 × 6 pdrs Forecastle: 2 × 6 pdrs

She was involved in repeated actions against the French, in 1702 off Newfoundland, and in 1705 when she captured the frigate Thétis. She was in the Mediterranean in 1711, and at the Battle of Quiberon Bay. She was rebuilt according to the 1733 proposals of the 1719 Establishment at Plymouth, and relaunched on 19 March 1744. She was at the siege of Pondicherry in 1748. Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood briefly served aboard her.

Exeter continued to serve until 1763, when she was broken up.

References

• Lavery, Brian (2003) The Ship of the Line – Volume 1: The development of the battlefleet 1650-1850. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-252-8.